Drum holder



Feb. 20, 1962 R. c. KESTER 3,021,744

DRUM HOLDER Filed June 22, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. RALPH C. KESTER ATTORNEY Feb. 20, 1962 R. c. KESTER 3,021,744

DRUM HOLDER Filed June 22, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 (So to INVENTOR.

RALPH C. KESTER I62 BY :54 7;/ ;;4,4; FIG. l3 3 ATTORNEY Feb. 20, 1962 R. c. KESTER 3,021,744

DRUM HOLDER Filed June 22, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 F I (3 II I INVENTOR.

.,. RALPH c. KESTER ATTORNEY United Sttes The present invention relates to a drum holder and more particularly to a holder for tenor and parade drums.

The principal objects of the present invention is to provide a drum holder for tenor and parade drums which permits maximum maneuverability on the part of the drummer coupled with optimum performance and control of the drum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drum holder which permits the drummer to execute high steps and kicks, fast turns, spins, counter marches, rare backs, and forward, back and side bends and steps, and to kneel, sit, run, skip, dance, and even skate without any interference from the drum or drum holder.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a drum holder which can be used continuously over long marches and in executing the foregoing maneuvers without bouncing or swinging around and without causing body fatigue, bruises, or other adverse effects to the drummer.

A further object is to provide a drum holder for tenor and parade drums which can readily be assembled onto and removed from the drum and which can easily be mounted on the drummer and adjusted to the desired position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drum holder of the aforesaid type which folds easily into a relatively small package for shipping, storage and carrying, and which can readily be assembled for use.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a drummer carrying and beating a drum supported by the present drum holder;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top plan view of one of my drum holders;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the shoulder harness used in conjunction with the drum holder shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view to a reduced scale of a band or strap adapted to rest on the body of the drummer and support one end of the drum holder shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of a fixture forming a part of the drum holder shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is a bottom view of the fixture shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURES 7 and 8 are front and side elevational views of a fixture by which the harness is attached to the drum; 1

' FIGURE 9 is a reduced top plan view of a part of the drum holder shown in FIGURE 2, showing it in its folded position;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevational view of the holder par-t shown in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a bottom view of the folded holder part shown in FIGURES 9 and 10, in its folded position;

FIGURE 12 is an end elevational view of the holder part shown in FIGURE 10; and

FIGURE 13 is a top plan schematic view of a modified form of my drum holder.

Referring more specifically to the drawings and to FIGURE 1 in particular, numeral designates a conatent 3,021,744 Patented Feb. 20, 1962 ICE - tenor drum, including body 32, heads 34 and 36, hoops 38 and 40, and tensioning rods 42 anchored to the drum body by members 44. The size of the drum and details of construction, such as the type of tensioning rods, may vary from one drum to another without having any bearing on the basic features of the present invention, or requiring any significant changes in the structure thereof.

The present drum holder assembly shown clearly in FIGURE 2 consists of two rods 46 and 48 supported at their forward end by rivets 50 and 52 extending through the rods and through the forward end of a rigid metal plate 54, the rods preferably being constructed of steel or aluminum flat or round stock. To permit lateral adjustment of the rods and to hold the rods in their adjusted position, arcuate slots 56 and 58 are provided in plate 54 near the rear edge thereof, and bolts 60 and 62 extend through rods 46 and 48 and slots 56 and 58, and receive nuts 64 and 66, re: spectively, for clamping the rods against the plate after an adjustment has been made. Washers 68 and 70 are disposed between the respective nuts and plate 54. Nuts 64 and 66 may be winged nuts, or any other suitable type requiring a wrench to tighten and loosen.

The rear end of each rod is provided with a fiat rather broad portion 72 and 74 and is supported by a half belt '76 having pockets 78 and 80 for receiving ends 72 and 74. The half belt is preferably of web material and includes a suitable adjustment means, such as slide fasteners 82 and 84 for adjusting the length of the half belt to fit any drummer. In the belt shown, the pockets at each end are formed by turning the ends of the material toward the center and stitching or riveting the edges of the overlapping ends to the body portion. However, the construction and shape of the means for supporting the rear ends of rods 46 and 48 are not considered an important feature of the present invention.

The structure for attaching the forward end of the drum holder to the lower part of the drum consists of a rod slidably mounted in a sleeve 92 secured to the underside of plate 54, and a fixture having a bar 102 extending between two tensioning rods on the drum and having a lug 103 with a hole 104 therein for receiving the forward end of rod 90. Rod 90 is held in its longitudinally adjusted position by a set screw 105 extending through a hole in sleeve 92. Adjustable clamps 106 and 108 are mounted on each end of bar 102 and are held in place by bolts 109 and 110 extending through longitudinal slots 112 and 114 and having winged nuts 116 and 118 for tightening the clamps onto the drum tensioning rods. Lug 103 is joined to the rear side of bar 102 at an inclined angle, as seen in FIGURE 1, to permit the drum holder to adapt itself naturally to the drummers body.

Attached to the upper part of the drum is shoulder harness 28 which is of web material and conventional in construction, consisting of cross straps 120 and 122 secured together at the center of the back, straps 124 and 126 attached to the drum and to straps 120 and 122 by ad justment fixtures 128, 130, 132 and 134. Sliding buckles 136 and 138 are mounted on straps 124 and 126 and are attached to the drum by two brackets 140 shown in FIG- URES 7 and 8, each having a hole 142 for receiving the buckles 136 or 138 and a hole 144 for mounting on tensioning rods of the drum.

When the present drum holder has been mounted on the drum and carried by the drummer with the use of o mas shoulder harness 28, the advantages of the holder become readily apparent from the illustration in FIGURE 1. It is seen that the drum is held high above the knee when the leg is raised high and yet the head of the drum is positioned so that the drummer can beat it effectively, with a minimum amount of strain and effort. The drum will stay in the desired position without occasional adjustment and can be easily removed when the drummer is through playing.

The manner in which my drum holder folds for convenient shipping, storage and carrying is illustrated in FIGURE 9 through 12. Waist belt 76 is preferably removed from the ends of rods 46 and 48, nuts 64 and 66 are loosened, the rods are shifted from the position shown in FIGURE 2 to that shown in FIGURE 9 and the nuts are again tightened. Rod 96 may likewise be retracted by loosening set screw 165 and fixture 1th.; can be easily slipped from the end of the rod so that bar 1&2 can be placed beside rods 46 and 43 for compactness of packing.

The present drum holder may be modified, using a single member 159 extending outwardly from the drummers body and having a rigid band 152 resting against the body at or below the waist. The other end of the member is attached to the lower portion of the drum, preferably using a stabilizing fixture 154 connected to member 150. A suitable adjustable extension can also be included in member 150 or between member 150 and fixture 154. This drum holder is used in the same mannet as the one previously described herein.

While only two embodiments of the drum holder have been described in detail herein, various other changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A holder for parade and tenor drums having top and bottom heads and hoops with tensioning rods therebetween, comprising a horizontally positioned flat plate-like member having a sleeve with a hole therethrough in the direction of the drum, a fixture having a bar-like member generally paralleling the lower hoop and a clamp on each end of the bar for engaging separate tensioning rods for supporting the lower portion of the drum, a lug joined to said bar at the center thereof and having a hole therein extending toward the drummer, a shaft seated in the hole in said lug and extending through the hole in said sleeve, a set screw for locking said shaft in said first mentioned hole, two rods pivotally joined at one end to said plate, a half belt for seating at the waist of the drummer and having pockets at each end for supporting the other end of the rods, an arcuate slot in said plate adjacent each rod, a bolt extending through each slot for clamping the respective rod in an adjusted lateral position, and a harness joined to the upper portion of the drum at spaced points and adapted to extend over the shoulders of the drummer.

2. A holder for parade and tenor drums having top and bottom heads and hoops with tensioning rods therebetween, comprising a horizontally positioned flat plate-like member having a sleeve with a hole therethrough in the direction of the drum, a fixture having a bar-like member generally paralleling the lower hoop and a clamp on each end of the bar for engaging separate tensioning rods for supporting the lower portion of the drum, a lug joined to said bar and having a hole therein extending toward the drummer, a shaft seated in the hole in said lug and extending into the hole in said sleeve, a means for locking said shaft in said first mentioned hole, two rods pivotally joined at one end to said plate, a half belt for seating at the waist of the drummer and having pockets at each end for supporting the other end of the rods, an arcuate slot in said plate adjacent each rod, and a bolt extending through each slot for clamping the respective rod in an adjusted lateral position.

3. A holder for parade and tenor drums, comprising a plate having a hole therein extending in the direction of the drum, a fixture for engaging and supporting the lower portion of the drum, a lug joined to said fixture and having a hole therein extending toward the drummer, a shaft seated in the hole in said lug and extending into the hole in said plate, a means for locking said shaft in said first mentioned hole, two rods pivotally joined at one end to said plate, a belt having pockets at each side of the drummer for supporting the other end of the rods, and means for adjusting said rods laterally.

4. A holder for parade and tenor drums, comprising a member having a hole therein extending in the direction of the drum, a fixture for engaging and supporting the lower portion of the drum, a lug joined to said fixture and having a hole therein extending toward the drummer, a shaft seated in the hole in said lug and extending into the hole in said member, a means for locking said shaft in said first mentioned hole, two rods pivotally joined at one end to said member, a belt having pockets at each side of the drummer for supporting the other end of the rods, and means for adjusting said rods laterally.

5. A holder for drums, comprising a member having a hole therein extending in the direction of the drum, a fixture for engaging and supporting the lower portion of the drum and having a hole therein extending toward the drummer, a shaft seated in the hole in said fixture and extending into the hole in said member, a means for locking said shaft in said first mentioned hole, two rods pivotally joined at one end to said member, a means for resting on the body of the drummer and having means for supporting the other end of the rods, and means for adjusting said rods laterally.

6. In combination with a tenor-type drum, a substantially rigid elongated support of the extensible type, a substantially rigid fixture interconnecting one end of said support to said drum, and a body engaging member attached to the opposite end of said support.

7. The structure defined in claim 6 wherein said mem her is of the half-belt type and constructed of flexible material.

8. The structure defined in claim 7 wherein said halfbelt type member includes means to vary the effective length thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Waters Oct. 7, 1958 

